The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-03-04
miscellaneous.
A MOTHERS VISION.

"Oh, DEAR" said tidy Mrs. Jewett, "there'
Willie in the parlor again with his muddy
boots, and Jennie has fingered the wood
work of the piano all over, see, that l pol
ished so nicely only yesterday. | know thu
door of the spare room has been left open
too, for the muslin curtains are pulled al
away, where pussy must have frolicked il
the folds; and, dear, there's Jack this minute
with his feet in that stuffed chair !"
Come. come, mother, l wouldn't fret,
said easy Mr.. .Tewett; 1.-THE children must put
their feet somewhere, and suppose kittenl
will be kittens and fly about where they car
find the most fun"
"Ob, yes" rejoined Mrs. Jewet,, frs very
easy for you, father, to think children ant
cats can go where they like and do what They
please I'm not fret,ing, but it's hard WORK
to sweep and polish, and do clear-starching
and men never did know and never will know
anything about the work of housekeepel
and mother"
So saying, Mrs. Jewett, with her fair, pref
ty face all in wrinkles, went out of the room
with a worried:
"Oh, dear"
And her husband looked after her with {
compassionate:
"Poor motherW
Naturally Mrs. Jewctt was of happy dis
position, but like many another fond, faith
full mother, she was unconsciousy falling in
to the habit of worrying over the inevitable
faults and thoughtlessness of her children.
She was scrupulously neat housekeeper
and as her things had not come as easily as
they do to many others, they acquired all The
more value and importance in her eyes, once
they came into her possession.
But the usual restlessness boys and girls
and even poor capering kitty herself, was fast
developing into Mrs. Jewett that irritating
freitfuness and impatience which kills true
happiness and comfort in many home, and
where the mothers real object is to make al
as comfortable and happy as possible.
In vain MIR. Jewett limited that things were
always going wrong, somehow, and that
there was no end of peevishness and fault.
finding taking root in his family.
At such times Mrs. Jewett would shed
tears and declare no one could do more than
spend all their time and energies for the well
fare of their family, as she did.
One morning the curtains were discovered
to have been rolled up all to one side, while
the summer sunshine was flooding, with its
wholesome light, the bright pattern of the
new Brussels carpet. Jennie and Carrie
had left their school books scattered around
on the chairs, and Jacks muddy boots stood
In the middle Of the floor.
Mrs. Jewett burst into TRADE of displea.
sure, but the children were out of hearing
so instead of judciously and patiently call
ing them in and obliging them to put things
In their places, she began putting things to
rights herself, allowing Mr.. Jewett as fire.
quently happened, to bear the brunt of her
displeasure, and for once his good nature
gave way, and he said, pettishly:
~ declare, wife, tits thousand pi,ies there
are any children here to bother you So"
Mrs. Jewett made no reply, but going to
her room she sat down for moment to con-
slider whether or not her husband meant what
he had just said.
But by degrees the room faded from her
vision, the house became quiet-terribly
quiet-the sunlight died out, and shade and
stiffness reigned supreme.
There were footsteps heard, but hushed,
creeping, awed
All of active life had ceased even the kit.
ty had taken herself off, and was no where
to be seen.
Mrs. Jewett reused herself, and went from
kitchen to dining-room, from dining-room to
parlor. The invariable order was oppres.
sive.
The curtains were rolled with exact even
ness not the finest line of sunlight could
pierce through crack or crevice OF the nicely
adjusted shutters.
Every book was in its place; the chairs as
guiltless of dust as If just cleaned, and the un.
blurred polish of the piano reflected each un.
disturbed ornament and object In its vicin-
ity.
But the children Oh, the childrcnl
A great appalling throb of apprehension
and whitening pain shot unrepressed through
the mothers heart at the mention of their
names.
Where, was winsome-no longer mischie.
vous but winsome-WillieP
Where, pray, were sportive Carrie and
lively Jennie2 Where, too, bounding, loving
little Jack Yes" she said, vaguely peering
about in the sunless gloom, where are my
precious children"
She left dining room and parlor and wen,
from one chid's chamber to another-every-
thing in that same depressing order even their
little beds were unruffied, each smooth pill
low looked as if Impressed by sunny head
for-oh, so long.
And, ali, misery! What was that in Willie's
room In the porcelain vasep
Some white flowers tied with white satin
ribbon; and this heart-breaking emblem In
Jennie's room? Her picture, sweet child
with crown of fading flowers encircling II
and here in Carries room her picture, the
darling, also crowned with immorteles.
And Jacks room, forlorn in its tidiness;
yes, yes, q funeral wreath 10 his room, dear,
loving little Jack.
Mrs. Jewett's first impulse was to disar.
range everything; thequiet and appalling neat
ness were goading her to madness even kit,
ty had deserted the sunless, childless house,
but the children-oh, the children The
r. a.. 4 A. n n